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Your summer skin care tool kit

By Angelina VaahThe Kit

Thu., Aug. 9, 2018

GUA SHA

Origin: Gua Sha is the ancient East Asian practice of “press-stroking” a lubricated area of the skin to boost circulation. In traditional Chinese medicine, blood stagnation is thought to cause many illnesses, an issue treatments such as acupuncture, cupping and Gua Sha all seek to treat.

How it works: The upward and outward scraping motion gets blood moving while stimulating collagen and elastin production. It’s also great for lymphatic drainage and curbing facial bloat. Hooray for our new post-ramen puffy-face-fighter.

JADE ROLLER

Origin: Another East Asian beauty blessing, these rollers have been part of Chinese skin rituals for centuries. The jade stone itself is believed to possess healing properties while also serving as a protective talisman and imparting wisdom.

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How it works: Used with gentle pressure along the face and neck, the roller is said to reduce puffiness, define facial contours, promote all-important blood circulation and help serums and creams better sink into skin.

PULSATING FACE MASSAGER

Origin: In 2010, a series of videos demonstrating the Tanaka facial massage by late, great, baby-faced beauty expert Yukuko Tanaka created major buzz in the beauty world and launched the facial massage craze in Japan. The latest iteration of the trend incorporates this New-Age pulsating tool.

How it works: Emitting 6,000 pulses a minute, this massager relieves muscle tension and cranks up blood circulation to give you a rested glow.

MICRO-NEEDLING

Origin: Micro-needling was actually discovered through tattooing. Doctors noticed post-ink skin became ultra supple as it healed because the body made up for the trauma by producing more collagen. Dry-tattooing, a.k.a. micro-needling, was thus born.

How it works: The roller is equipped with tiny (we’re talking less-than-a-millimetre-long) needles that gently puncture skin. You might experience some redness or discomfort, depending on your skin’s sensitivity, but there’s no downtime or major pain involved. Over time, you’ll notice plumper, smoother and more radiant skin.

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CLEANSING BRUSH

Origin: A product of Swedish innovation, this sonic-powered silicone device eliminates the need for replacement brush heads and is considered more hygienic than its nylon-bristled counterparts.

How it works: An astounding 8,000 transdermal sonic pulsations per minute wiggle pores to usher out every last trace of makeup, dirt, and oil. You can barely feel anything, which means you won’t get any irritation or redness afterward. It’s been shown to prevent breakouts and blackheads while also leaving skin brighter and firmer.

DERMABRASION

Origin: Dermabrasion, or the process of removing top layers of skin with an abrasive tool, can be traced all the way back to ancient Egyptians who used straight-up sandpaper to smooth their faces. Ouch. In the ’90s, a less terrifying version of the procedure made its way to North America, but was only available in a doctor’s office. Today, you don’t even have to leave the house to reap the benefits. What a time to be alive.

How it works: Suction power allows the tip to gently cling onto skin while spinning discs encrusted with aluminum oxide crystals go to work exfoliating dead cells. All you have to do is glide the device over your skin.

FACE ROLLER

Origin: These fancy face rollers have been popping up in all of our favourite K-dramas lately. After essences, mists, and sheet masks, we’re so ready to embrace the latest Korean beauty export.

How it works: Simply roll it back and forth along the contours of the face. The Y-shaped neck is designed to snuggly fit your jawline and help refine your face contours. Just like its fellow face massagers, it activates blood circulation for a fresher, younger-looking complexion.

FACE COOLER

Origin: Ever heard of putting a pair of spoons in the refrigerator and placing them over your eyes to make bags disappear? Well, this nifty tool kicks the age-old hack into overdrive.

How it works: Just let it live in your refrigerator until you need it and it’ll stay cold for hours. Stamp it onto tired eyes or glide it along the contours of your face to quickly nix redness and puffiness.

MICRO-CURRENT

Origin: For years, doctors and physiotherapists have been turning to micro-currents to help speed up the healing of wounds and fractures. Then, a physician using the therapy to treat Bell’s palsy realized his patients were experiencing smoother, more youthful skin, and micro-currents began being used for cosmetic purposes.

How it works: This tool delivers super-mild electrical currents to stimulate collagen and elastin production while also tightening facial muscles. It’s kind of like a non-surgical mini-facelift right in the comfort of your bathroom.

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